- Jurgen Klopp says Marko Grujic has a place in his long-term plans on Merseyside
- Serbian recently joined Cardiff City on loan in search of regular first-team football
- Midfielder made his debut in Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday
- SEE MORE: New twist could see Chelsea impact Daniel Sturridge transfer
Jurgen Klopp insists Marko Grujic holds a firm place in his long-term plans on Merseyside.
The midfielder recently sealed a loan move to Cardiff City, where he will continue his development until the end of he season.
Liverpool have ensured Grujic gains the regular first-term football he requires by inserting a financial punishment clause in his contract, meaning Cardiff will be fined if the 21-year-old fails to play in at least 14 of the club’s remaining games.
Klopp has been quick to offer Grujic reassurance over his Anfield future, expressing his desire to see him grow into a key player at the club.
“We miss him already in the training group because he developed really in a fantastic way. But because of the quality we have in the squad, it happened really often that he was not even in the squad,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“That’s not nice and he needs these 20 games in the Championship. I’m really happy for him.”
“We had a long conversation about it and he’s looking forward to it. He wants to be a Liverpool player and I want him to be a Liverpool player. He gets the opportunity to play at Cardiff.”
“It’s a difficult league as we all know. They are in a good position and maybe they will have play-off games, which would be a fantastic experience. So it’s a very good decision.”
Grujic arrived from Red Star Belgrade in January 2016 for £5.1million and has since, courtesy of two strong pre-season campaigns, been tipped as a future Liverpool starter.
Experience is seemingly the missing ingredient at the moment, with regular game time promising to be key in progressing his decision-making, tactical discipline and intelligence on the ball.
He already boasts the basic physical traits well-suited to the Premier League, not to mention the box-to-box dynamism that makes him compatible to Klopp’s approach.
The Serbian’s exit follows that of Ryan Kent, who recently terminated his loan deal with Frieburg early before returning to England and signing on a temporary basis with Bristol City.
Both Reds conveniently find themselves in the fight for promotion to the Premier League, where the pair undoubtedly aim to ply their trade in the future.